Review: The Asylum Interviews: Bronx

Reviewed by Jen
 

Jocelynn Drake gives us our first look into her new Urban Fantasy world of the Asylum Tales with this engaging novella. Our main character is Gage, a tattoo artist and wielder of magic, who shares his story in the first-person.  It all begins as he wakes up on the floor of a nasty bar bathroom, shaking off the effects of a mickey.

He soon discovers he was drugged by his own friend, an incubus named Parker, who dosed him so he could go, er, recharge his energies.  A troll named Bronx helps him track down his wayward friend.  After too many drinks together, the three of them engineer a misguided plan to give him a magical tat to help him get the energies he needs without having to cheat on his girl.  Things only go downhill from there.

I liked the story.  The world-building is clear and easy to understand... and incorporated seamlessly into the storytelling.  Even in roughly 60 pages, Drake gives us a clear look at her protagonist and the ongoing problems he will face as he struggles to suppress his magical urges and duck the close eye of the Ivory Tower council.

I look forward to getting to know him better and I hope we see more of secondary characters Parker and Bronx. I have a feeling we're in for a fun ride with this series.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Harper Voyager

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Asylum Interviews: Bronx

by Jocelynn Drake

Release Date: July 2, 2012

Publisher: Harper Voyager